Virginia Lilly (Evans) Delange

VIRGINIA LILLY (EVANS) DELANGE 94, of Allen Park, Michigan died in her home with family by her side on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Virginia was born on November 2, 1923 in Detroit. She graduated from Northwestern High School in Detroit in 1941. After high school Virginia was employed at Michigan Central Railroad as a Keypuncher. She was involved in the USO war effort where she met and later married Jack on November 26, 1946. Virginia was an accomplished pianist, studying and performing from a young age well into her twenties at the Conservatory in Detroit. She would practice countless hours a day on her Steinway Baby Grand piano; her music filling the courtyard of her apartment building to the delight of neighbors. Virginia retired from Michigan Central Railroad in 1951 for the birth of her first child. As her children entered junior high school in the late 1960s, Virginia resumed working, securing a job at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan as the company transitioned from keypunched data to transmitting data on magnetic media. Despite her successful career, the majority of her life was spent focusing on her children and family and in later years caring for her two granddaughters and then her grandson. Virginia traveled yearly to Unity Village in Kansas City, Missouri pursuing a degree in Advanced Religious Studies. There she was mentored by minister and author, Ed Rabel and J. Sig Paulson among others and made many lasting friendships. She graduated from the Village in 1992 after over fifteen years of studies. Among her biggest accomplishments is the fact that she made the lives of those around her better. She will be remembered for her quick wit which never left her. Jack predeceased Virginia in 2001 after 55 years of marriage. Virginia is survived by the couple's four children: James (Cheryl), Mark (Patricia), Gina Boyanowski (Paul), and Gayle Frasier (Thomas). She leaves many nieces and nephews, including Jeaniene, husband Terry and their family who were special friends. Virginia also leaves caring friend Lisa Wagel. Virginia was a loving grandmother to her four grandchildren: Meredith Lindsay Pickett (Andrew), Erica Nicole Frasier, Jackson Howard DeLange, and Mark John Evans Boyanowski. Family will receive friends Friday, June 29 from 2-8 p.m. at Martenson Funeral Home, 10915 Allen Rd, Allen Park, MI 48101. Memorial service will be held Saturday, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Unity of Livonia, 28660 Five Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48154. Family suggests memorials to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.